In case you were wondering

what to expect at Home Depot at 8:30am on Saturday morning, I'll fill you in.

First of all, there are NO cashiers so your only option is to do the much hated and dreaded self-checkout that I always have some type of problem requiring a cashier to come (WHEN they are not too busy and see me) turn the light off and do some voodoo magic to the machine to let me continue.  Keep in mind this only happens when you have a buggie full of items and you are down to scanning one of the last few.

So, I have ONE item.  ONE ITEM!  It can't be too bad, right? Ha!!! I got ya there.

It's a medium sized scatter rug.  I scan it and lay it where I'm supposed to so that it can be sufficiently weighed to make sure I am not trying to run out the store with an extra ounce of rug or something.  Guess what?  Yep.  It told me that the weight did not match the item scanned and i needed to wait for assistance to continue.

There is one young girl in front that is looking at me blankly.  I say, "Looks like I need some assistance to continue..."  She gives me a passive look and continues to stand there.  I repeat myself and she then starts pushing buttons on her own little machine in front of her.

I am standing there waiting and getting just a little irritated that there are all these employees all over the store and yet not one of them can just let me pay for my item and let me leave. I am having to unsuccessully attempt this on my own. 

I can see the 'assistance cashier' is really not of much assistance so being the resourceful kind of girl that I am, I hoist the rug off the scale and go to the next register which by some miracle works.  I pay and as I turn to leave, the 'non-assistance cashier' tells me she was on the wrong screen at the time and could not assist me.  Ummm, forgive me but she is standing there doing NOTHING else but to provide the customers (only ME at the time) assistance.  Do you think maybe it may have been a good idea to get on the proper screen to do the job?

Nahhh, too easy I guess.

So, in the mean time I leave with one of the self-checkout registers blinking desperately for assistance so it will be out of commission until I am assuming someone can find a proper screen for the next customer.

So, now you know...

Comments

[Dopefish]

Self checkout RULES!

If it were up to me, every store everywhere would be self checkout.

I prefer it that way. The reason is the cashier generally wants to talk. Feh - I just want to pay for my stuff and get out.

[Chana]

Of course YOU would say that Joe. Can you come help me check out early next Saturday then? :)

[MICHAEL MANNING]

Well, this is a sign of how depersonalized retail has become. I agree.

[PhilM]

Who's betting that particular register will still be blinking waiting for assistance the next time you go shopping?

[Nichole]

I can't stand going into Home Depot on any day of the week, even during non-holiday seasons. They never have enough employees working and never have enough cashiers available. It's always a stressful experience!

[Chana]

Michael: I very much agree

Phil: I'm in on that bet. I should have checked later that day, huh?

Nicole: Yep, I'm on your side! :)

[Christy]

I loathe self checkout machines! As you said, something always goes wrong even if you are attempting to check out one item and the so-called assistance desk is staffed by rude people. I am by no means technologically impaired but I'd much rather be checked out by a person, even if they don't say a word to me.